MISCELLANEOUS PERSONALITIES

Abbas ibn Ali was the epitome of loyalty. The precedent of sacrifice and loyalty to Imam Husayn that he set cannot be replicated. Whatever Imam Husayn commanded, Abbas obeyed without question. He had a deep love for Imam Husayn. On the path of Faqr, he is a guiding light for the seekers of Allah.

Abbas ibn Ali was perfect in the attributes of Divine majesty and beauty, bravery and courage, asceticism and piety.

Zainab bint Ali was a reflection of her glorious parents, Ali and Fatimah-tuz-Zahra. She resembled her mother in asceticism, piety, wisdom, truthfulness, boldness, chastity, integrity and devotions. From her father, she inherited eloquence and powerful oratory. Her unparalleled sermons in Kufa and Damascus are inscribed with bold letters in the pages of history, so poignant that they tear up the readers.

The courageous role of Zainab bint Ali on the battlefield of Karbala and afterwards is unforgettable. It was her bravery and valour that protected the holy women from the tyrants in Karbala and later informed the entire Islamic world of Yazid's brutality. If it were not for her, the world would never have known the true extent of the atrocities inflicted upon the family of the Prophet in Karbala.

Hasan of Basra holds the esteemed position of Sultan-ul-Faqr II and is considered a primary figure in Sufism. Ali ibn Abi Talib had four successors: Hasan ibn Ali, Husayn ibn Ali, Hasan of Basra, and Kumayl ibn Ziyad. In Sufism, they are known as the four righteous leaders or the four Mystic Caliphs. From these four Imams, fourteen major Sufi orders initiated. Through the Shaikhs of these orders the beneficence of the Holy Prophet is transmitted to the umma spiritually hitherto.

Rabia of Basra ascended to such spiritual heights of Faqr where even many great men cannot reach.

Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani's maternal grandfather, Sayyid Abdullah Saumaee, was a great Saint of his time. It was through his spiritual grace that Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani's father, Shaikh Abu Saleh, and his mother, Ummul Khair Sayyida Fatimah, reached the highest levels of knowledge and gnosis.

Sultan Bahoo's mother, Bibi Rasti, held an esteemed status in Faqr and was annihilated in Hoo. She was the one who provided Sultan Bahoo with his initial mystic training.

Ibn Arabi has expounded the theory of Wahdah al-Wujud (Oneness of Being) in his books to such an extent that it has become nearly impossible to further elaborate on it. He has defined the term 'the Universal Divine Man' in a comprehensive manner. The rank he attained in the expression of mystical knowledge is unparalleled. He is considered an authentic reference in the world of Sufism.

Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi (popularly known as Mujaddid Alif Sani) was not a denier of the theory of Wahdah al-Wujud; rather, during his time some people were misinterpreting it and he opposed those misinterpretations. The apparent disagreement between him and Ibn Arabi was because of the same reason, otherwise he like his father, Makhdoom Abdul Ahad and spiritual guide, Khwaja Baqi Billah, was a proponent of the concept of Wahdah al-Wujud. Because in the path of Sufism and Faqr, the disciple closely depicts his spiritual guide and never goes against his teachings.

Shaikh Sayyid Abdul Rehman Jilani Dehlvi is the spiritual guide of Sultan Bahoo. He belonged to the progeny of Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani. Details about his life are concealed from the world just like other spiritual leaders of the Sarwari Qadri order. They do not appreciate fame and keep themselves away from publicity, hence the details about their lives remain a secret.

Sayyid Abdul Rehman Jilani spent his life in anonymity. He never wanted fame and never went to the royal court or met the rulers and officials. He was the Fakir of the Qadri order and possessed Divine powers. A large number of people in Delhi and its vicinity were blessed with his beneficence and countless people became his disciples. He was among the Fakirs who benefit people while staying at one place.

Sultan Bahoo entrusted the trust of Faqr to Sultan-ul-Tarikeen Sayyid Mohammad Abdullah Shah Madni Jilani who was specially chosen by the court of Prophet Mohammad and sent from Madina. Approximately 139 years after Sultan Bahoo's death, Sayyid Mohammad Abdullah Shah visited the shrine of Sultan Bahoo in Jhang where the trust of Faqr was transferred to him, and the chain of Sarwari Qadri order continued again from where it was interrupted.

The trust of Faqr was transferred from Sayyid Mohammad Abdullah Shah Madni Jilani to Sultan-ul-Sabireen Sultan Pir Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Shah, whose lineage connects to the esteemed uncle of Prophet Mohammad, Sayyid al-Shuhada Amir Hamza, in twenty-six steps.

A false tradition is attributed to Sultan Pir Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Shah, claiming that he pledged allegiance to Salman Taunsavi in the Chishti order and became his successor. However, the truth is that Sultan Pir Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Shah is affiliated only with the Sarwari Qadri spiritual order of Sultan Bahoo and is the superior successor of Sayyid Mohammad Abdullah Shah.

Sultan Pir Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Shah transferred the trust of Faqr to Shahbaz-e-Arifaan Sultan Pir Sayyid Mohammad Bahadur Ali Shah. Sultan Bahoo designated him as the centre of Faqr, and after his death, his shrine remained the centre of Faqr until September 2012. During that period, all matters related to Faqr remained under the supervision of Pir Sayyid Mohammad Bahadur Ali Shah and all the esoteric and exoteric issues of the seekers of Faqr were resolved by his beneficence.

After Sayyid Mohammad Bahadur Ali Shah, the trust of Faqr was transferred to Sultan-ul-Auliya Sultan Mohammad Abdul Aziz who belonged to the holy lineage of Sultan Bahoo. It is through him that the trust of Faqr was transferred back into Sultan Bahoo's family. He further entrusted it to Sultan-ul-Faqr VI Sultan Mohammad Asghar Ali.